How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM

By Justin LewisLeisure Hobbies

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM episodes

May 22, 2025 No More Boring NPCS - Design a Better NPC with London Carlisle
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
Justin and Tanner are joined for this episode by an amazing DM, London Carlisle! While he's known for being an impressive DM at events such as "D&D In A Castle", his acting experience becomes especially useful for our discussion on NPCs. We discuss where to pull inspiration from for creating characters and voices, how to create depth in NPCs without overriding your players, and many more ideas to drill further into NPC creation!
Follow London on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londoncarlisle
And learn more about his role at "D&D In A Castle" here: https://www.dndinacastle.com/dungeon-masters/london-carlisle
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Do You Want to Earn some Money?
🎲 Want to Earn Some Extra Gold?
We’re offering a referral incentive for our professional Dungeon Mastering services! Here’s how it works:
1️⃣ Refer someone to session0studios.com/prodm
2️⃣ They sign up for a free consultation.
3️⃣ They mention they were referred by a podcast listener.
4️⃣ We DM an unforgettable session for them.
5️⃣ They get 10% off their booking.
6️⃣ You get 10% of what they paid—straight into your coin purse.
7️⃣ We celebrate with a virtual high-five. 🙌
We run games for private groups and corporate teams—whether it’s a one-shot or a long-term campaign.
💰 Want to earn some gold and help someone level up their game night?
Send them to session0studios.com/prodm and start earning today!
I Made a CR 100 Monster
I made a Monster with a Challenge Rating of 100
Why?
Because I could—and it only took me 5 minutes using Worldsmith.
And the best part?
You can do this and much more.
Get a free 7-day trial at session0studios.com/worldsmith and unlock their full suite of TTRPG generators from monsters to mythic magic items and everything in between.
Yep, that’s a full 7-day trial—completely free.
That’s a whole week of monsters, magic items, and more—whatever you need, zero burnout.
Try it now at session0studios.com/worldsmith.
Save time and make unlimited creations with Worldsmith.
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
35 min
May 15, 2025The 4 Core Skills of Dungeon Mastery (Plus the Secret 5th One)
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
Feeling stuck or burned out as a Dungeon Master? You’re not alone—and you’re not out of options. In this episode, Justin and Tanner break down the Four Core Skills that every great DM needs to master:

1️⃣ People Management

2️⃣ Showmanship & Performance

3️⃣ Game Design

4️⃣ Storytelling

And yes... there's a secret fifth pillar 👀
We discuss how to use these pillars as a personal skill assessment framework so you can stop overthinking your sessions and start building campaigns that actually improve week to week. Whether you're overwhelmed with prep, worried you're not "immersive enough," or comparing yourself to pro DMs, this episode will reframe your mindset and re-energize your games.

🔑 What you’ll learn:
The most overlooked DM skill (and why it makes or breaks your game)
How to identify and strengthen your weakest pillar
A tactical way to use these 4 skills to get "unstuck" mid-session
How to balance emotional storytelling with crunchy mechanics
Plus: A future tool we’re developing to help you self-assess

Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Do You Want to Earn some Money?
🎲 Want to Earn Some Extra Gold?
We’re offering a referral incentive for our professional Dungeon Mastering services! Here’s how it works:
1️⃣ Refer someone to session0studios.com/prodm
2️⃣ They sign up for a free consultation.
3️⃣ They mention they were referred by a podcast listener.
4️⃣ We DM an unforgettable session for them.
5️⃣ They get 10% off their booking.
6️⃣ You get 10% of what they paid—straight into your coin purse.
7️⃣ We celebrate with a virtual high-five. 🙌
We run games for private groups and corporate teams—whether it’s a one-shot or a long-term campaign.
💰 Want to earn some gold and help someone level up their game night?
Send them to session0studios.com/prodm and start earning today!
Add the Magic of Sound to Your Gameplay
When you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Monument Studios.
Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout.
Monument Studios
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
35 min
May 08, 2025 Should You Handhold New Players Into Loving D&D?
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
Whether your new player is a wide-eyed first-timer or cautiously dipping a toe into the hobby, Tanner shares key strategies for making their early sessions fun, engaging, and not overwhelming. From simplifying character creation and gently easing players into combat, to modeling role-playing behavior and encouraging character development, this episode is full of practical advice for DMs who want to be thoughtful guides on a new player's journey.
Check out our sponsor, Monument Studios! Their music always brings our games to the next level, and they can do it for you, too. Use cod BETTERDM10 for a discount and to support our show: https://rollandplaypress.com
Also, learn more about our Pro DM services here to have a great DM run your game: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Add the Magic of Sound to Your Gameplay
When you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Monument Studios.
Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout.
Monument Studios
Do You Want to Earn some Money?
🎲 Want to Earn Some Extra Gold?
We’re offering a referral incentive for our professional Dungeon Mastering services! Here’s how it works:
1️⃣ Refer someone to session0studios.com/prodm
2️⃣ They sign up for a free consultation.
3️⃣ They mention they were referred by a podcast listener.
4️⃣ We DM an unforgettable session for them.
5️⃣ They get 10% off their booking.
6️⃣ You get 10% of what they paid—straight into your coin purse.
7️⃣ We celebrate with a virtual high-five. 🙌
We run games for private groups and corporate teams—whether it’s a one-shot or a long-term campaign.
💰 Want to earn some gold and help someone level up their game night?
Send them to session0studios.com/prodm and start earning today!
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
20 min
May 01, 2025 Build Cities That Breathe: Mastering “Show, Don’t Tell” in Worldbuilding
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
Your world deserves to feel alive. In this episode of How to Be a Better DM, Justin dives deep into the art of “show, don’t tell” — not for your villains this time, but for your cities and settlements. Discover how to make your game world feel like a living, breathing place through cultural cues, architecture, layout, and behavior. You’ll learn actionable techniques to bring immersive environments to life and create settlements that feel like characters in your campaign. Plus, a secret about “show, don’t tell” that no one talks about!

Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Add the Magic of Sound to Your Gameplay
When you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Monument Studios.
Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout.
Monument Studios
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Start Leveling Up As a DM
Wouldn’t it be nice to gamify your dungeon master abilities?
In D&D, characters can reach level 20, so why can’t dungeon masters?
We’re happy to tell you that now, you can.
We created the Dungeon Master Level-Up Guide.
It’s a simple tool to gamify your progression to higher and higher levels of dungeon mastering.
It includes Dungeon Master Levels 1 to 20 with associated XP requirements as well as a long list of Dungeon Master activities that will give you XP. Each activity has a Challenge Rating and an XP amount.
In order to level up, all you need to do is find out how much XP you have, find out how much you need and pick activities to try.
You can get the Dungeon Master Level-Up guide for free by going to session0studios.com/newsletter/, sign up for our newsletter and we’ll email you the Level-Up Guide.
Finally, leveling up as a DM can be as fun as leveling up a character.
Level Up Guide
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
36 min
April 24, 2025 Why Doesn't Your D&D Combat Feel Fun? Plus How To Fix It!
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
We've all been there: the endless turns, actions, and HP ticking down as you slog through another combat that you don't know how to end fast enough. Why did your combat become like this? And how can you make it enjoyable and fun again?! Let's talk about it.
Also, want ad-free podcasts with additional content while also supporting us? Check out our Patreon: patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster

Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Start Leveling Up As a DM
Wouldn’t it be nice to gamify your dungeon master abilities?
In D&D, characters can reach level 20, so why can’t dungeon masters?
We’re happy to tell you that now, you can.
We created the Dungeon Master Level-Up Guide.
It’s a simple tool to gamify your progression to higher and higher levels of dungeon mastering.
It includes Dungeon Master Levels 1 to 20 with associated XP requirements as well as a long list of Dungeon Master activities that will give you XP. Each activity has a Challenge Rating and an XP amount.
In order to level up, all you need to do is find out how much XP you have, find out how much you need and pick activities to try.
You can get the Dungeon Master Level-Up guide for free by going to session0studios.com/newsletter/, sign up for our newsletter and we’ll email you the Level-Up Guide.
Finally, leveling up as a DM can be as fun as leveling up a character.
Level Up Guide
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Add the Magic of Sound to Your Gameplay
When you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Monument Studios.
Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout.
Monument Studios
21 min
April 17, 2025The Hidden Costs of Using AI in Your D&D Prep - Is it Helping You or Holding You Back
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
AI is here—and it’s not going anywhere. But what does it mean for Dungeon Masters?
In this episode, Justin and Tanner dive deep into how artificial intelligence is already impacting the tabletop RPG space—from ethical dilemmas to practical time-saving hacks. Is it a crutch or a creativity booster? Are you giving away core skills without realizing it? And how can you use it intentionally to become a better DM?
We’ll also share:
The right way to use AI for session prep
Why AI won’t replace storytelling, but might reshape it
Real-world examples of how we’ve used AI in our own games
A brand new sponsor-powered segment featuring a ridiculous, pizza-based spell 🎶🍕

If you're curious, concerned, or just cautiously optimistic about the AI takeover—this episode is for you.
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Try Worldsmith Today!
Give yourself access to infinite possibilities with Worldsmith!
It's the ultimate tool for Dungeon Masters to spark creativity or just save your bacon when you're in a bind.
You can generate infinite stories, traps or treasures.
Sign up at https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Worldsmith
Get The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree For Free
Take a trip down to the bayou in The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree.
We teamed up with Studio Fantasms to bring you a raucous one-shot adventure full of gatorfolk, catfishing, and a whole lotta moonshine.
We wrote the adventure, they designed the minis—it’s a sweet little bundle, and it’s totally free for the month of May.
Just head to https://session0studios.com/fantasms and sign up to grab it.
Don’t wait—May’s free, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
37 min
April 10, 2025 How to make Lifelike NPCs with DMs Shea and Kyle from Dungeon Master Talk
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
Is it important for you NPCs to "feel" a certain way when players interact with them? And more importantly, does making a fleshed out, goal-driven NPC add to the story or just add to your stress levels when prepping for your next session? Tanner discusses with DM Shea and DM Kyle from the Dungeon Master Talk podcast!
Also, check out their podcast at https://dungeonmastertalk.buzzsprout.com/ for some more sage advice from these awesome DMs!
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree For Free
Take a trip down to the bayou in The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree.
We teamed up with Studio Fantasms to bring you a raucous one-shot adventure full of gatorfolk, catfishing, and a whole lotta moonshine.
We wrote the adventure, they designed the minis—it’s a sweet little bundle, and it’s totally free for the month of May.
Just head to https://session0studios.com/fantasms and sign up to grab it.
Don’t wait—May’s free, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Why Listen to Ads?
Ugh, another ad break.
Let’s be real—ads are the worst. If you’re anything like my wife, you’d rather quit a show entirely than sit through another ad.
So why suffer? Just skip them.
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and enjoy ad-free episodes with exclusive patron-only content—all for just $5 a month.
Look at you, all fancy with your uninterrupted listening experience.
So stop wasting time on ads (like this one). Go to patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and upgrade your listening today!
Patreon
56 min
April 03, 2025Why Your Villain Falls Flat (And How to Fix It with Show, Don’t Tell) | Part 1 of the Show Don't Tell Mini Series
Most villains fail not because they're weak—but because your players aren’t emotionally invested. In this episode, we kick off a powerful new storytelling series with a focus on “Show, Don’t Tell”—starting with the most misunderstood piece of storytelling in D&D: the villain.
You’ll learn:
Why simply saying “he’s the bad guy” never works
How to build villains that evoke real fear, anger, or awe
A concrete method for triggering emotional investment
Real-world villain examples (and mistakes to avoid)

Ready to turn your villains from forgettable into unforgettable? Let’s roll.
👉 Want even more insights? Patrons get bonus content featuring improv warm-ups, DM scene setting, and personal geeking out sessions. Join at https://session0studios.com/patreon
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for our Graphic Design
Techsenpai, Juka and TJ Max for being great moderators!
Foxy Beard for being a patron.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree For Free
Take a trip down to the bayou in The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree.
We teamed up with Studio Fantasms to bring you a raucous one-shot adventure full of gatorfolk, catfishing, and a whole lotta moonshine.
We wrote the adventure, they designed the minis—it’s a sweet little bundle, and it’s totally free for the month of May.
Just head to https://session0studios.com/fantasms and sign up to grab it.
Don’t wait—May’s free, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Why Listen to Ads?
Ugh, another ad break.
Let’s be real—ads are the worst. If you’re anything like my wife, you’d rather quit a show entirely than sit through another ad.
So why suffer? Just skip them.
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and enjoy ad-free episodes with exclusive patron-only content—all for just $5 a month.
Look at you, all fancy with your uninterrupted listening experience.
So stop wasting time on ads (like this one). Go to patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and upgrade your listening today!
Patreon
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
31 min
March 28, 2025Diving Deep into Theme, Fate, and Storytelling with Jay Foster from Swole Initiative
What does it really mean to be a strong Dungeon Master? Is it about rules mastery, epic voices, or maybe... sonic attacks and diamond scales?
In this episode of How to Be a Better DM, returning guest Jay Foster from Swole Initiative joins Justin Lewis for a monster of a conversation—literally. First, Jay becomes the first victim of our brand-new segment, “What’s Your Monster?” powered by our friends at WorldSmith. (Spoiler: It’s epic.)
Then we dig deep into the power of theme in D&D campaigns—what it is, how to discover it, and how to use it to elevate your game. Jay breaks down how theme connects your villains and player characters and why letting go of rigid story control actually leads to better storytelling.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to wrangle plotlines, player choices, and big ideas, this episode is your antidote.
🔥 Topics Covered:
How to find the theme in your campaign (even if you didn’t plan one)
How to use your villain’s motives to reinforce story
Why players make better stories than you do
When to take control as a DM—and when to step back
The creative advantage of doing less prep

🎲 Plus: Jay shares improv tips, pacing tricks, and how to get players out of a “tavern loop.”
Whether you're a brand-new DM or an old-school storyteller, this episode will sharpen your storytelling tools—and maybe inspire your next legendary monster.
🧰 Sponsored by WorldSmith – Try their encounter generators and prep tools at https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast!
🎧 Subscribe, leave a review, and share the show if you love what you hear!
Mentioned in this episode:
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Why Listen to Ads?
Ugh, another ad break.
Let’s be real—ads are the worst. If you’re anything like my wife, you’d rather quit a show entirely than sit through another ad.
So why suffer? Just skip them.
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and enjoy ad-free episodes with exclusive patron-only content—all for just $5 a month.
Look at you, all fancy with your uninterrupted listening experience.
So stop wasting time on ads (like this one). Go to patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and upgrade your listening today!
Patreon
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Get The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree For Free
Take a trip down to the bayou in The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree.
We teamed up with Studio Fantasms to bring you a raucous one-shot adventure full of gatorfolk, catfishing, and a whole lotta moonshine.
We wrote the adventure, they designed the minis—it’s a sweet little bundle, and it’s totally free for the month of May.
Just head to https://session0studios.com/fantasms and sign up to grab it.
Don’t wait—May’s free, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
53 min
March 20, 2025 GMing 101: Top DM Tips from Dragon Steel Nexus
In this special episode of How to Be a Better DM, Justin Lewis shares key takeaways from the GMing 101 panel at Dragon Steel Nexus 2024. Learn how to manage player expectations, improve group communication, and create more engaging game sessions. Whether you're a new DM or a seasoned pro, these tips will help you level up your game!
Special thanks to :
Benj Weyland for our Graphic Design
TJ Max, TechSenpai and Juka for being our Discord Moderators
Foxy Beard for being a Patron.
Mentioned in this episode:
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Join Our Discord
So a little bit of a spoiler alert. We’re building an army.
That’s right, we’re building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place.
If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause.
Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today.
Discord
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Why Listen to Ads?
Ugh, another ad break.
Let’s be real—ads are the worst. If you’re anything like my wife, you’d rather quit a show entirely than sit through another ad.
So why suffer? Just skip them.
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1 hr 16 min